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The unstoppable juggernaut of Indian para-shutters and the driving force behind Gaurav Khanna

The Indian para-badminton contingent, which put on a scintillating performance at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, outdid themselves when the team, under the able leadership of superstar coach Gaurav Khanna, collected an incredible 47 medals, including 16 gold. A fantastic and breathtaking display of courage and glory, however you look at it.

Regardless of the measure of success, the results of the four courts at Lugogo Stadium in Kampala confirmed that India is indeed the dominant power in the world’s para-badminton. Thanks to Head Coach Khanna’s hard work and results driven approach.

The rest of the world may be surprised at the rich selections India had in Kampala, but the man, in his calm and collected manner, says the team have lost at least 5-6 more. “You know, out of the 13 finals we played, 11 were between my own students. We lost here as if the matches had been between us and foreign players, we would have the chance to win more. “

But, ironically, he said he was also happy with the 11 games played for the team. “I didn’t have to jump from court to court to coach the players. So, as a coach, I saw the matches from the grandstand enjoy every moment. applaud and boo my players. I would have been so tired if I had to be in the arena. I was actually busy counting the medals, ”says Khanna with a laugh.

Khanna, who is the only coach in the world to have his own state-of-the-art academy, said there was no special training for the event before they flew to Uganda. Training went as usual but the team was more focused.

In para badminton, each player is unique, having their own physical problems and requiring special training. “Like any professional coach, I have to focus on the opponent’s status and strengths and levels of competition and strategize. It’s hard work but I like it. I have to work a lot on precision in addition to fitness. Unlike normal athletes who have the same movements, the same type of fitness requirements and the same type of stroke play and practice, in para these are individual demands that I have to work on. I have to make sure they are fully acclimatized and used to all the prosthetics they can use. “

The team is a mixture of several categories of handicapped people. There are wheelchair players and amputees, polio and one or both limb deformities, players with balance problems, etc. All look to Gaurav for deliverance and care. He has his work cut out for him.

Was this kind of success expected? Yes, especially for inexperienced young players like Palak Kohli, 19, who won two gold and one silver. Palak may be young, but he’s becoming a powerhouse of the game. Khanna had seen her in a mall in Lucknow and approached her to join her academy. He was a total unknown, but he was a unique talent spotted by a very confident coach.

Palak Kohli was one of 16 gold medalists in Uganda

According to Khanna, Palak is extremely dedicated and works very hard. In fact, the teenager is so dedicated that even during the lockdown, she continued to stay at the academy. She had been playing outside since the badminton hall was locked. Just before the Tokyo Paralympics, she suffered a broken ankle and was in tremendous pain, but continued to train in a wheelchair, enduring the pain or discomfort that presented itself.

He says no one can stop the rise of the keen player who is sure to move. Palak was set to win gold in all three events and in a way she disappointed the coach by not claiming a full house. The coach, however, is already looking forward to the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he is convinced she will win gold for India.

The team management were happy that India had a strong presence in the quarterfinals and also happy with the number of medals exceeding 40. It was indeed a bonus or, as the coach says, “someday very happy and important in my life ”.

Speaking on the phone from Uganda, Khanna agreed that the team has eclipsed Tokyo’s performance and with Uganda also finished, it is time to not only start preparing for Paris 2024, but also to start preparing for Paris 2024. look for young talent who will shine at the 2028 and 2032 Olympics.

So how high has the bar been for Khanna and company?

He is totally absorbed in making Indian para-badminton the envy of the rest of the world. He’s quite sure the player base under him is solid and says it’s just the start. “We have infused quality into my academy. We take care of all aspects of and for the players.

But I am alarmed because more and more players from all over the country want to join my academy. I only have four courts when the need is at least 8-10 courts. So I have to say no to the enthusiastic response from across the country. While I am happy with the results from Tokyo, Uganda and elsewhere, I am also concerned that success will create additional problems. I cannot compromise quality with quantity. I need to have quantity and quality together. Hopefully we will get help from the state or central government in terms of enough land to house 8-10 courts and funding from the private sector. “

While the support staff at most other games are richly rewarded; Pullela Gopichand is an example who received thousands of rupees every time Saina Nehwal or PV Sindhu won major titles and got cash incentives, from Badminton Association of India or other entities. BCCI regularly announces cash rewards for all support staff, including coaches, physiotherapists, masseurs, etc.

Gaurav Khanna is by far the most successful coach in the history of Indian sport. To date, his students have two Khel Ratnas, seven Arjuna winners, two Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal, at least seven world championship gold medals and a bucket full of international titles. In Uganda alone, we have seen the impressive number of medals.

What more must he do to be generously rewarded for bringing enormous and continuing laurels to India. He’s a proud man who won’t go begging. Its interns have won cash prizes after Tokyo and have been awarded millions of rupees. So far, neither the UP state government nor the central government has seen fit to announce cash awards for him.

He is already being sued by foreign countries to train in those countries. Very lucrative offers that he repeatedly rejected. “I don’t want to leave my country,” he said candidly. But then each person has a threshold and he is also a human, like the rest of us. It would be foolish and short-sighted not to reward him generously for his service to the country. I hope the authorities will take note of this and flood him with the awards / prizes he so deserves.

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